Wagon dump and elevator.



F. GAHM. WAGON DUMP AN D ELEVATOR.

.A f Agruonorf Hmm mi. m,A 190e. Patented 13604111908- 3 EEEBTS-SHEBT' '1.

ful NORM: #trips co., wAsfullcfoN. n. c.

F. GAHM. WAGON DUMP ANDELEVATOR. l ABPLIUATION FILED JAN. 27, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1,1908. a mmHg-SHEET 2.

1HE Naxms PE1-zus co.. wAsHllyafoN, n. c.

F. GAHM. WAGON DUMPv AND ELEVATOR. Arrmonmn FILED nn.21, 1eoa.

Patented Dec. 1,1908.v

SBHBETB-BHEET 8.

Y l FRANK GAHM, oF srRFAToR, ILLINOIS.

WAGON DUMP .AND ELEVATOR.

No.A 905,170.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

[Application mea January 27, 190s. vserial No. 412,854.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it y known that I, FRANK GAHM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Streator, in the'countyof Lasalle, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon Dumps and` Elevators, of which the following is ia speciication, reference being had to the accoml I at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, and also panying drawings.

This invention'relates to devices designed to raise the front end'of a wagon in order to dump the contents therefrom.

It has for its objects to provide improved mechanism for raising and lowering the platform upon which the front wheels of the wagon rest; to provide improved means for automatically stopping the upward movement of the said platform at any predetermined point; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of guiding supports for the said movable platform and to improve generally the construction and operation of devices of this general character. I accomplish these objects by the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the drawings and hereinafter speciiically described. I

That which I believe to be new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at lineA 2 -2 through the base of the machine and the Vmovable elevator. Fig. 3 is an end viewof the machine, partly in section. Fig. 4 isa top or plan view, partly in` horizontal section, of one end of the machine. being. a vertical section at line 5-5 of Fig. 1.l Fig. 6 is a detail, being a vertical sec.- tion at line 6-6 of Fig. 3.` Fig. v7 isa detail, being a vertical'section at line 7 -7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail, being a vertical section at line 8 8 of Fig. 1'. y

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by like reference numerals,-1O indicates a base consisting of a rectangular frame the bars of which may advantageously be formed from sheet metal bent into the form .of angles and channels as shown. Secured upon this base and near opposite ends thereof, are two supporting frames each consisting of bars 11-12, preferably made of angle-irons, the bars of each frame converging towards their. upper ends and being united by a suitable plate 13 bolted or other- Fig. 5 is a detail,y

wise attached to them. As shown, each bar 12 is materially more incl-ined than its coacting bar 11.

14 'indicates a .rod at each end of the machine, each of said rods being secured at its upper end to one of the plates 13 and at its `lower end secured to the supporting base.

One of these rods,-namely that one shown lower ends. By the front side, I mean that side upon which the wagon approaches and passes onto the machine.

16 indicates a platform rectangular in shap'e and composed of bars suitably secured together upon which the front wheels of a wagon are adapted to rest so that when the platform is elevated the wagon body will be suitably inclined to adapt the load in the wagon to be discharged at the rear of the wagon. The platform 16 is provided at each of its ends with a suitable device adapted to slidingly engage the parallel rods 14. In the construction shown, such engaging devices are each in the form of a wide metal yoke 17 through the opposite ends of which the pin or pins 18 (see Figs. 1 and 4) are passed to hold the yoke in place. As the platform 16 is moved up and down as hereinafter described, it is evident that by the engagement of the parts 17 with the rods 14 it will be guided by such rods and necessarily will, when moving upward, move also in a slightly forward direction. By providing for this slight forward movement during the raising operation, I avoid materially moving the Vwagon forward on its rear wheels, as would be the case if the ascent of the platform were in an absolutely vertical direction or if the guide` rods were inclined in the direction opposite to that shown. It is because of this manner of moving the platform in an inclined direction instead of perfectly vertically that I give the inclination shown to the bars 12 of the supporting frames. If the platform were to be moved perfectly vertically, the bars 11 and 12 would naturally be each inclined to the saine eX- tent.

19 indicates a chain attached at one end to one of the guide yokes 17 and passing over a pulley 2G that is suitably journaled near the upper end of one of the supporting frames 11-12, and thence down under another pulley 21 that is suitably journaled in one of the rear corners of the base 10 and adjacent to said last-named platform 11-12, and adjacent to the lower end of the bar 12 of said last-named frame 11-12. From this pulley 21 it passes lengthwise of the machine parallel to and near the rear bar of the base 10 (see Fig. 4), and under another pulley 22 up to an arm 23 projecting from the other yoke 17, to which arm the end of the chain is attached. rlhis arm 3, in the construction shown, is braced by a brace 24 extending from the lower portion of the yoke lastnamed to near the forward end of said arm, as shown in Fig. 8.

25 indicates another chain one end of which is attached to said arm 28 and extending up over a pulley 26 suitably j ournaled in the upper end of the frame 1112 that is at the right-hand end of the machine when looking at it as in Fig. 1, and from such pulley it passes down and is attached to a suitable horizontal drum 27 (see Figs. 1 and 4), said drum being fast on a shaft 2S. This shaft 28 is journaled at its inner end in a bracket 29, and near its outer end in a frame 30, said bracket and frame being both suitably secured upon the base 10, the bracket being located a short distance from the inner face of the adjacent frame 11-12, while the bracket 30 is located some little distance beyond the outer face of said frame 11-12, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

31 indicates a driving shaft extending transversely of the base and suitably mounted in bearings 32 that are secured, in the construction shown, to the outer face of the frame 30. The ends of this driving shaft are squared, as indicated at 83, to adapt it to be connected at either'end to an ordinary tumbling rod, such as is used in connection with power mechanism employed to operate machinery of this class.

34 indicates a worm loosely mounted on the drive shaft 31, which worm meshes with a worm-wheel 35 that is fast on the end of the shaft 28 that carries the d rum 27.

36 indicates an internal gear of comparatively large size also loosely mounted on the drive shaft 31.

37 indicates a clutch on the drive shaft 31, said clutch being so connected with the shaft as to turn therewith and being also free to move longitudinally on the shaft. 1t may be so mounted in any suitable manner. As shown, (see Figs. 3 and 7) that portion of the shaft on which the clutch moves is squared. On its opposite faces this clutch 37 is provided with cogs or projections adapted to engage respectively in projections in the end of the sleeve on which the worm 34 is formed and with the internal gear 3U, so that either the worm or the internal gear will be properly secured to and rotate with the drive shaft 31.

3S indicates a pinion made fast to the outer end of the sleeve on which is formed the worm 34, said pinion meshing with another pinion located above it. This latter pinion is indicated by 39. This pinion 39 is made fast on a countershaft 4() that is journaled at its outer end in a bearing 41 and at its other end is ournaled in a bearing at the end of a` short bracket 42 that is suitably secured to the upper bar of the frame 30. (See Fig. 3.) The inner end of this countershaft has secured upon it a pinion 43 that is in mesh with the internal gear 3G.

44 indicates a pinion that is secured upon the shaft 28. 1t is in mesh with a gear 45 journaled upon a stud 4G that projects out from a vertical arm 47 secured to the frame 30. This gear 45 (see Fig. 5) is provided at intervals with holes 4S passing through it into any one of which is adapted to be set a pin 49 (see Fig. 1).

50 indicates an arm pivotally mounted on the stud 4G (see Fig. 5). In the form of construction shown, this arm is doubled upon itself in the form of a yoke, the two members of which lie closely to the two faces of the gear 45. Near the upper end of this arm 50 is pivotally attached one end of a link 51, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to a lever 52, which lever is pivoted, as best shown in Fig. 3, to the upper portion of the gear-supporting frame 30. This lever 52, as best shown in Fig. 7, is bifurcated at its lower end and attached in any suitable manner at opposite sides of the clutch 87.

53 indicates a rod connected to the upper end of the lever 52 and by means of which an attendant can move thelever so as to shift the clutch into engagement with either the worm 34 or the internal gear 36.

In operation, a wagon to be dumped will be driven onto the machine, entering from that side at which are placed the supporting bars 11, and will come to rest with the front wheels of the wagon on the platform 16, while the platform is in its lowermost position to receive the wagon, and, until it is desired to raise the forward end of the wagon, the clutch 37 will have been moved by the attendant through the rod 53 and lever 52 so as to be out of engagement with either the i with the shaft, itbeingunderstood that the shaft is continuously in rotation.` The effect of thus locking-the worm to the shaft is to cause the worm-wheel 35 to rotate, and, through it, turn `'the drum -27 which is fast on the shaft 28 that vthe worm-wheel 35 is attached to, and -this-turningof the drum of course winds up .the chainf25 thusexerting through the arm 23 an upward vpull, on that end of the platform adjacent to the driving devices. The other chain, 19, that is also .connected `to said arm 23 Aand passes under `the pulleys 22 .and "21 and over the v:pulley 20,0f course causes an equal upward pull at the other end of the platform which is slowly and evenly raised. When it has reached the desired height, the pin 49 that has previously been inserted through the proper hole 48 in the gear 45 will come in contact with the arm 50 and cause such arm to rock on its pivot and through the link 51 exert a sufficient pull on the lever'52 to withl pinion 43 on the countershaft 40, drives such countershaft, and, through the two pinions 39-38,-the latter of which is made fast, as stated, to the worm 34,-drives such worm in the opposite direction from that in which the drive shaft itself rotates, and, consequently, through the worm-wheel 35, rotates the winding drum 27 in a direction to uncoil the lifting chain 25 therefrom, and thus allow the platform to descend. The internal gear is a comparatively large one, and consequently the descent of the platform is made much more rapidly than the platform is raised, which, of course, is a desirable feature.

The clutch is to be automatically released from engagement with the hub ofthe internal gear when the platform has descended to its lowermost position, and this is accomplished by another pin previously inserted in one of the holes 48 in the gear 45 striking against the arm 50. Or the same pin that accomplishes the disengagement of the clutch from the worm can be employed to effect the disengagement of the clutch from the internal gear if the lower portion of the arm be made of a suitable width. When the clutch is in engagement with the worm so as to lock Such worm to the driving shaft during the operation of raising the latform. 16, the internal gear will necessari y be turned during the entire timeowing to the engagement of the pinion 38 that is made fast to the end of the sleeve on which the worm is formed `with `the pinion 89 carried on the countershaft 40, but .the turning of such internal `gearat that time has, as lwill be understood from the description, no effect -one way or another on the movement lof the platform. It `is only when the clutch is in engagement withsthe internal gear that :the movement zof {VVhat I claim as my `invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentim- :1. -In a machine of Lthe class described,the

combination Witha movable `platform adapted to receive the front wheels of a wagon, a flexible connection connected with said platform and adapted to exert an upward pull yon ythe same, and a drumaround which said `connection ,1s wound, of a drive shaft, a

worm and an internal gear both loose on said shaft, a clutch slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to engage either said worm or said internalv gear, a worm-wheel fast on the shaft of the said drum, means for rotating the worm and through it reversing the motion of said worm-wheel and drum when the clutch is in engagement with the internal gear, and means for sliding said Vclutch on said drive shaft.

2. In a machine of the class described,the combination with a movable platform adapted to receive the front wheels of a wagon, a flexible connectionconnected with said platform and adapted to exert an upward pull on the same, and a drum around which said connection is wound, of a drive shaft adapted to be continuously driven in the same direction, a worm and an internal gear loose on said shaft, a clutch fast on said shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with either said worm or said internal gear, a worm-wheel in constant engagement with said worm, a drum fast on the Wormwlieel shaft, gearing operated by said internalgear for driving said worm when said clutch engages said internal gear, a pinion on the shaft that carries the worm-wheel and drum, a gear driven by said pinion, means actuated by said last-named gear for throwingsaid clutch out of engagement with the worm or the internal gear, and an adjustable device carried by said gear for causing the movement of said last-named means at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine.

3. In a machine of the class described,the combination with a movable platform adapted to receive the front wheels of a wagon, a flexible connection connected with said platform and adapted to exert an upward pull on the same, and a drum around which said connection is Wound, of a drive Shaft adapted to be continuously driven in the same direction, a Worm and an internal gear loose on said shaft, a clutch fast on said shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with either said Worm or said internal gear, a Worm-Wheel in constant engagement With said Worm, a drum fast on the Worm- Wheel Shaft, gearing operated by said internal gear for driving said Worm When said clutch engages said internal gear, a pinion on the shaft that carries the Worm-Wheel and drum, a gear driven by said pinion, and means actuated by said last-named gear for throwing said clutch ont of engagement with the Worm or the internal gear.

4. In a machine of the class describechthe combination With a movable platform adapted to receive the front Wheels of a Wagon, a HeXible connection connected with Said platform and adapted to exert an np- Ward pull on the saine, and a drum around Which said connection is Wound, of a drive the Same direction,a worm and an internal gear loose on Said shaft, a clutch fast on said shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with either Said Worm or said internal gear, a Worm-Wheel in constant engagement With said Worm, a drum fast on the Worm- Wheel shaft, gearing ope 1ated by `@aid internal gear for driving said worm when said clutch engages said internal gear, a pinion on the shaft that carries the Worm-wheel and drum, a gear driven by said pinion, a Swinging arm adjacent to said last-named gear, a connection between said arm and said clutch, and means carried by said last-named gear adapted to be forced against and to move said arm to cause a disengagement of the clutch from the Said worm or internal gear.

FRANK GAHM.

Titnesses H. DonMAN, LLOYD PAINTER. 

